An Eco-Friendly Packing List for Sustainable Travel

Traveling sustainably can be difficult, especially on longer journeys. Without the comforts of home at your disposal, taking steps to be eco-friendly on the road requires a little extra planning and effort. Fortunately, it’s not impossible! I’ve created an eco-friendlypacking list with the items that have helped me on my six month journey so far. I’ve also included a few things I wish I had, or would have packed if I had more space. Read on for my recommendations!

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item through one of these links, I will receive a teeny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance if you decide to help me keep my blog afloat!

Possibly the most obvious choice is to bring a reusable water bottle. I brought two with me on this trip, one being Hydroflask which was great for large amounts of water and keeping things icy cold. The other was the a Hydaway, which is much smaller but compresses to a flat sphere which can easily be strapped to your backpack or stuffed in a tote bag.

Sadly, I lost both of those. Now I’m using a Camelback, which doesn’t compress or keep things as cold, but is a happy medium with amount of water it stores.

The perks of bringing your own reusable bottle go beyond minimizing the number of plastic bottles you’ll buy. I guarantee you’ll save a lot of money too as many countries around the world don’t offer free water at restaurants or have readily accessible water fountains!

2. Water filter straw

If you’re in a country that doesn’t have clean tap water, it can be even harder to avoid buying/using plastic bottle water. Whether you’re hiking or just filling up your bottle at the hotel, a water filtration straw can be a huge help. I’ve used LifeStraw before and really liked it.

3. Reusable Straws

To go along with your water bottle, you’ll probably want some reusable straws. Depending on your preference, there’s a ton you can purchase. I’ve got a few from Starbucks, and a few from who knows where else, but there are plenty of cheap options online too. The straw I’m linking to here is collapsable and comes with a cute carrying case that makes it super convenient to store in a small purse or handbag.

4. Spork/bottle opener

Plastic silverware sets are insidious little plastics pieces that are unnecessary if you’re able to clean them. This nifty FinessCity spork I brought with me even has a bottle opener on the end! What more could you need. The FinesseCity one is out of stock but this spork is almost identify.

My FinessCity spork and carrying bag.

5. Tupperware containers/Lunchbox

Great for leftovers, whether you’re eating out or cooking at the hostel. Just be sure not to leave your lunchbox in the hostel fridge when you check out. (Not that I’ve ever done that…)

6. Mesh fruit/veggie bags

These mesh baggies super light and can be used for other souvenirs too. Super nice to have when grocery shopping though so you can pick up mushrooms, soft fruits, or other produce without leaving them loose in your tote bag.

7. Tote bag

Speaking of reusable bags – plastic bags are one of the worst consumer plastics out there and easy to avoid if you bring your own tote. Super light-weight and foldable, it doesn’t have to take up any space in your bag. And can double as a souvenir shopping bag and/or extra storage when your backpack or luggage starts to overflow.

Hygiene items for your eco-friendly packing list:

1. Shampoo bars

This has been one of my favorite hygiene replacements yet. I use LUSH brands, but some people aren’t a fan of the chemicals they use (though they’re vegan and don’t test on animals, which are my main two criteria at the moment). A single shampoo bar will produce an enormous amount of bubbles with just a few swipes on wet hair. You can buy metal tins for a few bucks to store them in. (Let them air dry a bit before closing the lid though or they’ll get stuck to the container.)

Like the shampoo bars, except conditioner. And from my experience, less bubbles.

3. Bar soap

Good ole, classic, bar soap. You know the drill with this. Choose your favorite brand (one that doesn’t test on animals, if you please!) Lasts so much longer than the travel size hygiene items.

4. Bamboo toothbrush

I bought my first bamboo toothbrush on this trip when I learned how many plastic toothbrushes are disposed of every year. I mean, you are supposed to replace them several times a year. Makes sense. The Humble Brush has been working great for me!

My Humble Brush toothbrush and LUSH toothpaste tabs.

5. Toothpaste tabs

I’ve purchased these from LUSH as well. The container does come in plastic, but it’s recyclable. I’m working on a way around this too. They have lots of different flavors, and I think also last a bit longer than the travel size toothpastes.

6. Eco-friendly sunscreen

Did you know that most sunscreens contain chemicals that are seriously harming the coral reefs? While it’s important to protect your skin, we gotta protect our precious ocean life too. Here’s an option for safe brand to use.

All Good Sunscreen Sun Stick.

7. Deodorant bars

Just like a deodorant stick minus all the plastic in the container! Also purchased mine from LUSH. There are some other good brands though, too.

8. Menstrual cups

While I opted for an IUD which has basically caused my period to cease, this is not the case for everyone and not an ideal option for others. Though I’ve heard they take a bit of getting used to, menstrual cups save a ton of plastic from pads and tampons. They also tend to be better for you as the cotton in most tampons is filled with chemicals you don’t want in your most sensitive lady-bits.

9. Reusable Razor

While this particular razor headis disposable, the handle is reusable – which is still an improvement. Haven’t found a way around this without not shaving – an option but not my preferred MO. Let me know if you’ve got a better product!

Reusable Razor.

Miscellaneous items for your eco-friendly packing list:

1. Laundry tabs

Save some water by doing laundry in the sink – especially good for sheer/thin clothing or quick-dry clothing. If you’ve got the time, let things air-dry instead of using the energy to throw it in the dryer. You’ll save a lot of money with both as it often costs a few dollars to do each load of laundry in a laundromat. Plus, let’s face it, nobody wants to spend their valuable travel time sitting in the laundromat.

2. Solar charger

This nifty gadget charges in the sun and refuels all your electronics with a USB charger. Great for when your phone/laptop dies while you’re away from an outlet, whether that’s on a train or on a hike.

3. Essential oils & reusable spray bottle instead of free breeze

Febreeze tends to have a lot of chemicals that aren’t great for the planet. Plus, when it’s out, you usually have to recycle the bottle. Instead, bring a small container of lavender essential oil and tea tree oil, along with a reusable spray bottle. Fill it up with water, add 10 drops each of lavender and tea tree oil, and you have your very own febreeze!

Safe to use on clothes, bedding, or as a face/body spray if you’re needing a little refresher yourself. It’s saved me when my clothes are getting musty or I’M getting musty but can’t get to a shower for a while. (Hiking. Long train rides. Flight delays at the airport. You get the drift.) Even better, you can dump it out before you board a flight and won’t have to count it in your liquids like you would the febreeze. The essential oilsare smaller and will last you a LOT longer too.

Aura Cacia Lavender & Tea Tree Oils and Resuable Spray Bottle.

4. Recycled travel journals

So you can smile about your eco-friendly ways every time you journal about your trip.

Other quick tips for being eco-friendly on the go:

Trade out your books at a hostel instead of throwing them away

Look for recycling bins and donation bins as you walk through the city to your hotel

Turn the lights & electronics off when not in use to save energy

Reuse your towels and sheets in the hotel rooms to save water from laundry

Seek out transport in this orderWalking & bikes

Subways/trams

Trains

Busses

Cars/taxis

Planes/Ferries

Private Jets/Cruise Ships

Obviously this is not an all inclusive list. For every item you put in your bag, there is a more and less sustainable equivalent. But this eco-friendly packing list is a good start and can cut down on some of the most pervasive types of pollution we create as tourists when we travel. If you add all these items to your sustainable travel packing list, you’ll be well on the road to an eco-friendly adventure!

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Sarah is a 24-year-old working in juvenile justice who loves to travel the world (if you haven't gathered that already). I'm a proud cat mom, coffee-addict, and Harry Potter fanatic with an over reliance on list-making. Welcome to my little slice of the internet, where I'll try to convince you that work and travel are NOT mutually exclusive.

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Hey there! My name is Sarah. I'm a 25-year-old working in juvenile justice who constantly daydreams of traveling the world. I'm also a cat mom, coffee-addict, and Harry Potter fanatic with an over reliance on list-making. Welcome to my little slice of the internet where I'll try to convince you that work and travel are NOT mutually exclusive!